Sorry Republicans, facts matter

Published July 21, 2017

By Chris Fitzsimon

by Chris Fitzsimon, NC Policy Watch and NC SPIN panelist, July 19, 2017.

It’s not an original thought to point out that the Trump Administration is a larger version of what has been happening in North Carolina for the last seven years, a takeover by far-right ideologues hell-bent on dismantling the fundamental institutions of the government they lead, without regard to the suffering their decisions will inflict on the people they are supposed to represent.

At least two distinct battles are now constantly raging in Raleigh in Washington. One is being led by the new regime’s political opponents both inside and outside of government who are relentlessly reminding voters of the devastating consequences of decisions to privatize public schools, repeal a health care law that has cut the number of people without insurance in half, and wage war on the environment by recklessly rolling back key regulations and abandoning efforts to address climate change.

The other battle is internal, between the new rulers and a few reasonable holdovers within their ranks from the days when the Republican Party was not dominated by vindictive extremists determined to punish their political opponents while remaking the government they detest.

The collapse of the horrific Trumpcare health care bill in the Senate is the result of a loss by the new regime on both fronts. The opposition rallied millions of people to oppose the mean-spirited proposal that would kick more than 20 million people off the health insurance rolls and a handful of moderate Senators inside the Republican Party stood up and said no.

It is an important victory—for the moment. The battle on health care is not over and there are many more battles to come. The last seven years in Raleigh have taught us that the ideological warriors on the Right have a long list of institutions they want to hobble and scores they want to settle.

A troubling recent development in the last few weeks in Raleigh and Washington shows the lengths to which the folks on the Right will go to pursue their agenda—attacking the people and institutions who directly work for them if they do not bend the truth to fit their distorted worldview.

Last week the White House released a video attacking the Congressional Budget Office after the experts there said the Republican health care proposals would increase the ranks of uninsured in America by 23 million people.

Conservative pundits went on television attacking the CBO too, challenging the credibility of the professionals at the CBO for pointing out the real life effects of the health care changes being considered by Congress.

But the CBO works for Congress and the man who currently runs it was hired by Republican House and Senate leaders in 2015 after a strong recommendation by then Congressman Tom Price, who is now the HHS Secretary in the Trump Administration.

This is their CBO doing its job and presenting the facts, not an advocacy organization run by their political opponents. The health care law championed by Trump and his allies in Congress will result in 23 million Americans losing their health care coverage.

That is a fact from the CBO, an inconvenient fact for the right-wing crusaders, but a fact nonetheless.

A few weeks ago in Raleigh the nonpartisan staff of the General Assembly released a report showing that the tax cuts passed by the House and Senate this session would lead to a $1.2 billion state budget shortfall in two years and a hole of $1.4 billion two years after that.

The report assumes lawmakers will make needed investments to keep up with inflation and increased enrollment in public schools but does not project any major new spending initiatives.

Republican legislative leaders immediately criticized the findings claiming they were based on spending levels they would never endorse. Conservative commentators called the report a political document. One right-wing group called the nonpartisan legislative staff “leftist bureaucrats” and another asked if they “had been out in the sun too long.”

The man in charge of the General Assembly staff these days is former Raleigh Mayor Paul Coble, a conservative Republican who was hired by the current legislative leadership in 2015.

The Fiscal Research Division of the legislative staff that produced the report warning about the budget shortfall is often praised by members of the House and Senate for its expertise.

But not this time. They are leftists all of a sudden.

The tax cuts passed by the General Assembly will lead to a budget shortfall unless lawmakers make painful budget cuts to prevent it. That is also an inconvenient fact for the folks on the right, but a fact nonetheless.

Attacking the experts who produce those facts, even when they work for and were hired by the Republicans themselves, doesn’t change anything—but it does show the desperation of the ideologues now in charge.

Thank goodness facts still matter, whether Republicans in Raleigh and Washington like it or not.

http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2017/07/19/sorry-republicans-facts-matter-raleigh-washington/

July 21, 2017 at 10:33 am
Norm Kelly says:

Two quick thoughts just by reading the title of this post.

First, had to come from some alt-left zealot.

Second, ain't it funny how libs claim that facts matter when they aren't in power, but specifically deny actual facts when they are in power? Except not funny as in 'ha-ha', but funny as in sad!

What can we expect by reading this alt-left wing zealot post? Certainly anything but facts; more demoncrat party support drivel. Ranting about how great socialism is and the idea that Republicans are standing in the way of socialism FINALLY being properly implemented. For the first time in the history of the world, mind you. But the fact that socialism has failed EVERY time it's been tried anywhere in the world, has no bearing on alt-left wing zealot attempts to scam their supporters.

'fundamental institutions of the government': in lefty-land this obviously refers to socialist programs. Those things specifically prohibited in the U S Constitution. Those things implemented by demons that NEVER come in on budget, with the claimed results.

'without regard to the suffering their decisions will inflict on the people they are supposed to represent.' Is the author, an obvious alt-left zealot, talking about the oft-lied about socialist health insurance market takeover by the former president? It's becoming obvious to those who continue to have the ability to think that Obamacancer is a TOTAL failure; has not done a single thing alt-left zealots lied to us about; and has caused many citizens to be unable to afford their medical care. Yet, we can expect this alt-left zealot to continue to mislead readers throughout the rest of this post.

'devastating consequences of decisions to privatize public schools'. Yet libs have absolutely zero concern about the devastating consequences of NOT fixing public school. Alt-left zealots only claim about gov't monopoly school is that Republicans constantly stand in the way of spending even more money. The only claim from alt-lefts is that spending more, constantly whining that what they have isn't enough, is never gonna be enough, constantly spending 'just more' will solve the disaster that is public education. When will it be enough? According to alt-left zealots, the answer is NEVER!

'a health care law that has cut the number of people without insurance in half'. But not a single concern from alt-lefties about the people who were kicked off their plan when socialist gov't take-over was implemented. Not a single concern about those who now can't afford the premiums, can't afford the deductible, and are filing bankruptcy or doing without care because of their failed scheme!

'abandoning efforts to address climate change'. Climate change. The scheme that was developed when communism was rejected in our nation. Ask yourself, what's the difference between the take-over of our nation by communists and the take-over by 'climate change' proponents? They have the same result. And the same people would be in charge whether you accept communism or the lie of 'man-made' climate change. And the same people suffer under either scheme, the majority, because it's the same plan, just with a different name, a name communists/socialists hope sounds better, sounds more acceptable to the majority. And if you disagree with this disillusional minority, they will take you to court to force their schemes upon you!

'when the ... Party was not dominated by vindictive extremists determined to punish their political opponents'. With this one edit, the statement is simply true about the demon party. Remember how demons purposely schemed against Bernie? Talk about vindictive! Witness how alt-left extremists take their opponents to court to force alt-left schemes upon those who reject them! Witness how the majority in this nation opposed gay marriage - they finally managed to get the courts to force this scheme upon us. Witness how businesses are constantly taken to court to force them to participate and support bizarre behavior by forcing us to take part in their ceremonies. They are not satisfied that they can do what they want, they choose to force others to endorse, support, and participate in their delusions! Concerning politics, witness how the facts of the Duke coal ash spill was lied about and the blame was put on someone who had zero responsibility, their political opponent, yet ignored the fact that the disaster was caused by, known about and ignored by, their own party! Facts are those funny things that alt-left zealots choose to ignore.

And if you choose to believe the drivel coming from the alt-left zealot writing this editorial post, you too are disillusioned and misled. It's time for you to educate yourself rather than simply accepting alt-left zealot ramblings as simple fact. When you educate yourself, you will finally recognize propaganda coming from alt-left zealots.

Republicans may not have all the answers, but it's more obvious than ever that alt-left zealots have NO answers! Their only response is whining. And being the party of NO!